Can't delete text box in PowerPoint

Anonymous
2014-02-06T06:17:02+00:00

I've recently had a problem deleting text boxes in PowerPoint.  I'm able to select the box by clicking on the box perimeter (which changers the little circles and squares at the perimeter from open to solid, as it should).  But when I hit delete, it deletes the last text character within the box, rather than the box itself.  I also can't copy the box.   When I select the box and hit command-C, I hear a little whish, signifying (I suppose) an disallowed action.  The boxes in question are not part of a slide background.  This problem does not occur with pictures.

I've found a workaround which is to select the box differently, namely by dragging the cursor around the box with the mouse button held down.  Then I can (sometimes) delete or copy it.  Still looking for a real fix.

Microsoft 365 and Office | PowerPoint | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2014-04-15T21:34:15+00:00

I stumbled on a fix today.  

Under system preferences, chose Keyboard, then chose Shortcuts, and then at the bottom under Full Keyboard Access, click the "All controls" radio button. 

Previously, the "Text boxes and lists only" radio button was selected.  I can recreate the problem by clicking this other radio button, i.e. the fix is fully reversible.  I don't think I ever touched either of these buttons before yesterday.

I believe this fix completely resolves for me the issues with selecting text boxes in PowerPoint. 

Note that it's very puzzling that a system tabbing option should have anything to do with selecting text boxes in PowerPoint.  I expect there is still an underlying bug.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-02-12T23:41:15+00:00

    I guess the questions to both of you, Steve and Ralph, is what changed in your software environment from the time when it worked to when it didn't work?

    Software code will work exactly the same way each and every time until something else unexpected is introduced into the environment. These changes can effect how the software works and they can be other software introduced into the environment, software setting changes, hardware changes and even hardware setting changes.

    So being specific… did this behavior change occurs after updating the version of Office? Did it occur after updating a version in OS X. Where other add-ins to Office introduced or activated? What hardware changes or settings at the OS level regarding hardware such as screen resolution were made?

    I grasping at straws but hopefully you get the point… something has changed and you need to identify what it is.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-13T16:44:35+00:00

    Rich,

    thanks for your suggestions but, unfortunately, this is not my case.

    I created the last slide at 10 p.m. on Friday and closed my mac lid. Started the system the next morning after a sound sleep and there it is: the effing PP bug. So, unless something happened when my mac was off, nothing changed in the environment. Moreover, before the Friday night shutdown I didn't update or install anything.

    That's unbelievable. I just loaded someone else's PP presentation (built in a MS environment) and here we go: even the the old slides created by my colleagues are bug affected: PP enters "text mode", the topmost text box (either a title or simple text) is showing selected with the blinking cursor somewhere within the text, the indentation button in the Home menu shows clickable and no chance to copy the same text box with Command+C (unless, as explained, the right mouse button is clicked or ESC button is pressed...).

    I think I'll be heading to Keynote since this bug is doubling my efforts and my costs (I'm a consultant significantly relying on PP in my job...).

    I'm getting mad...

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  3. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 437.7K Reputation points
    2014-02-13T20:03:05+00:00

    Closing the lid does not turn a laptop off... Just like you, it may have gotten a good night's sleep but it was still powered on.

    As a part of what was suggested in my first reply here, try an actual restart of your Mac. The easiest way is to go to the  menu & select the Restart command. Even Macs get confused if they're left running 24/7 over extended periods of time :-)

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-13T20:58:46+00:00

    Hi, it's Ralph chiming in again...

    I've fully shut down my Mac many times and the problem persists. 

    Like Steve, I find that, when I click on a text box perimeter, I see the "increase indent" indicator button flash on.  But it only stays on for about a second before turning itself off spontaneously.

    Also, the icons for "cut" and "copy" (i.e. little scissors and overlaying pages), that are located near the top left of the active window, also flicker on and then off with the same timing. 

    In fact, this observation allowed me to discover another work-around:  If I work fast enough, hitting delete or command C within the ~1 second time window when the icons are on, I am actually able to copy or delete normally.

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